Publisher's Synopsis
In the four decades since World War II, the European Community has grown and made great progress toward integration which will culminate in the 1992 plans for a common market. This book seeks to acquaint the reader with that progress, providing a description and details of the evolution, and discussing the institutions and programmes of the community in relation to American concerns in terms of trade, global rivalry, and co-operation and defence questions. Policy recommendations and suggestions for ways Washington can pay better attention to European Community developments are also considered.;Hackett stresses the historical background of the community and its institutions, and analyzes its development as a cultural, social, and geographical unit. For readers who may be new to European studies, the broad social, cultural, and historical heritage of Western Europe is developed as the backdrop into which the Community can be placed. The chapters cover a variety of topics, including the Common Agricultural Policy, the European Monetary system, technology and training, political cooperation,and an extensive overview of how the European Parliament functions. Each chapter contains detailed endnotes that supply further information as well as references to other works on the Community, while a set of three appendices outline the current members of the Commission and their responsibilities, the summit meetings, and the Community's budget process. This work is intended to serve as a primary text for courses on European history since World War II, and aims to be a useful resource for courses in world politics and economics. Public and academic libraries should also find it to be a valuable addition to their collections.
